Your Midwife Care Guide
Attending antenatal care when you are pregnant is essential to ensure the wellbeing of you and your baby.
Our service follows the recommended pathway from NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) and is based on current research.
Your routine antenatal care
Some women will have an individualised plan that differs from that detailed below. Either your midwife or obstetrician will discuss your care plan with you. If your pregnancy requires Obstetric led care your Community Midwife will still care for you at booking 16, 25, 34, 40 & 41 weeks.
First appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
You midwife will record details of your medical history and undertake many risk assessments. This helps to decide if you need to have care with a consultant or extra scans. Routine screening tests will be offered and reading information for your pregnancy will be provided.
12 – 14 week ultrasound scan
An appointment will be arranged and sent to you after from our Scan Department.
Midwife 16 week antenatal appointment – Face to face
Your screening test results will be discussed with you as well as any specialised pathways if under consultant care. You will be able to discuss your pregnancy and any concerns at all contacts.
20 week ultrasound scan
Midwife at 25 weeks antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
Your midwife can issue your MAT B1 form to give to your employer or benefits office. You will be able to discuss feeling your baby move, bonding and think about how you want to feed your baby.
Midwife 28 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
You will be offered routine blood tests and advice on sleeping positions. You will be able to discuss choices for vitamin K for your baby, birth choices and other health and wellbeing advice will be given.
Midwife 31 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
Your blood test results will be discussed with you. BCG vaccination along with any pregnancy concerns you may have can be discussed.
Midwife 34 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic (1st time mothers)
At this appointment we begin to think about where you would like to give birth and how to express colostrum in preparation for breastfeeding. Further reading information will be provided.
Midwife 36 week antenatal appointment –Face to face appointment in clinic
You will have the opportunity to tell us your birth preferences and learn about signs of labour. We will discuss the Newborn Screening available with you.
Midwife 38 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
We will talk about what to expect if your baby becomes overdue. An appointment for induction of labour will be offered if you are NOT a 1st time mother at this appointment.
Midwife 40 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic (1st time mothers)
An appointment for induction of labour will be offered. You will also be offered a cervical stretch and sweep to take place at 40+4,40+6 and 40+8. This may help you to go into labour without the need for induction of labour or make the induction process more effective. Your midwife will explain this to you.
Midwife 41 week antenatal appointment – Face to face appointment in clinic
If you are NOT a 1st time mother then at this appointment you will be offered cervical stretch and sweeps at 41 and 41+2 weeks.
Induction of labour at 10 days overdue is recommended for all women solely under midwife care.
If you have not had your baby, the hospital will contact you in the morning to discuss the time to arrive at the hospital.
If you have had a plan made by a consultant outside of the pathway above, this will be communicated with you separately.
COVID-19
If you are well, you should attend your face to face antenatal care. If you have symptoms of possible coronavirus infection, you should postpone routine visits until after the isolation period is over and seek advice from the NHS 111 Service. If you have symptoms of a possible coronavirus infection please contact your local maternity centre to adjust your appointment method. For other queries about coronavirus and pregnancy the following website may be helpful;
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists-Information for pregnant women and their families: Coronavirus (COVID-19), infection in pregnancy | RCOG
Important information to help you understand your care and options for you and your baby
- Screening Test – Screening tests for you and your baby (STFYAYB) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Infant Feeding – Feeding your newborn baby – Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Fetal Movements – Leaflet and banner: Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
- Luton Borough Services
- Central Bedfordshire Services
- Birth Planning – How to make a birth plan – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- For the Dads and Partners – Dads and partners | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
- All things pregnancy – The Pregnancy Book | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
- Pregnancy Hub – PregnancyHub | Tommy’s (tommys.org)
- Employment Advice – Pregnant employees’ rights – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Weight Management Luton – Keeping Active – Flying Start Luton
- Weight Management Central Bedfordshire – Maternity and Postnatal Weight Management – Morelife UK (more-life.co.uk)
- Health & Wellbeing – Keeping Active – Flying Start Luton
- Induction of Labour – Inducing Labour :: Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (blmkhealthiertogether.nhs.uk)
- Government Initiative – Healthy Start – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Smoking Advice – Stop smoking in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Pelvic Floor – Exercise in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Vaccinations – Vaccinations in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Luton & Dunstable Maternity Voice Partnership Facebook
- Luton & Dunstable University Hospital Facebook
Pregnancy Help Directory
Community Midwife Hub
- Chaul End – 01582718891
- Farley Hill -01582429574
- Beehive – 07769364385
- Marsh Farm – 07769913820
- Leighton Buzzard – 07769913820
Open Monday to Sunday, 8am to 4pm.
For appointment enquiries, general pregnancy symptom management. Please do not text or leave voicemails as they are not monitored.
GP Surgery
- Your registered GP
- Please check GP practice for their opening hours
- For medical advice and prescriptions
Early Pregnancy Clinic
- Call 01582 718179
- Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 4:30pm
- Before 20 weeks: vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, unusual discharge.
Emergency Department
- Open 24 ours
- Before 20 weeks: any medical and pregnancy related emergency. After 20 weeks: any medical emergency.
Antenatal Clinic
- Call 01582 497017
- Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
- Consultant appointment enquiries
Ultrasound Scan Department
- Call 01582 497499
- Scan appointment enquiries
Day Assessment Unit (DAU)
- Call 01582 718145
- Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
- For advice and DAU appointments, enquiries after 20 weeks.
Delivery Suite
- Call 01582 329574
- Open 24 hours
- After 20 weeks only: pregnancy emergencies and labour